No matter the circumstance, smiling can make a positive difference to our moods, reduce stress and strengthen immunity - this week's podcast explores why this effect exists.
People smile for many different reasons - be it to show politeness, convey trustworthiness or for social bonding purposes; but did you know they can also protect us?
Smiling: Brightening the World
By smiling, you are sending a signal to your brain telling it you are happy. By activating facial muscles to produce smiles and creating this positive feedback loop, smiles can lift even the darkest moods. Plus, their contagious nature ensures when you smile at someone they will likely reciprocate by returning the gesture with one of their own; you may witness this reaction at work or social events where people reciprocate by smiling back - the effects are even stronger when groups of people smile back!
Smiling is an international form of nonverbal communication that's widely understood. It doesn't require translation, yet conveys positive emotions such as happiness and trust - in fact, smiling can even help make friends more easily as it conveys openness and willingness to connect. Smiling also shows your approachability and confidence while interviewing or networking events and can even help establish rapport.
Happiness signals can reduce heart rates and release feel-good endorphins that can enhance overall wellbeing, helping navigate difficult situations by relieving stress and improving outlook. Smiling has also been shown to have many health advantages including strengthening immunity against illness.
As more and more people struggle with depression, anxiety, and other forms of mental illness, smiling is truly magical. By simply offering someone your genuine smile you can light up their day and provide hope - so always remember to smile often -- and share it!
Smile AM: The Superpower of Positivity
Smiles trigger endorphins in our brains to produce natural feel-good chemicals called endorphins that instantly enhance our mood and lower stress levels. Smiling can even help manage pain symptoms by reducing intensity; smiling is contagious! And people around you are likely to reciprocate by also smiling back.
Numerous studies have confirmed that those who smile are seen as more likable and competent. Furthermore, researchers have discovered that smiling is linked with life satisfaction and happiness; furthermore it can increase relationship duration and quality as well as be used effectively as a tool for building and maintaining work relationships - for instance employees in customer service roles are more productive when they smile at coworkers.
Smiling can help break negative patterns of behavior such as blaming others or complaining, and keep you in a more positive frame of mind, staving off effects of aging such as memory loss and increased cortisol levels - this is particularly useful for leaders. According to research done in 2010, smiling may even extend lifespan.
An honest smile can make an incredible impactful statement about both you and those around you. A genuine smile will provide immense wellbeing benefits - more so than any effort put forth into forcing one out! When life becomes challenging or you find yourself stuck in an endless loop of stressors, try forcing yourself to smile more frequently; its benefits will more than makeup for any difficulty it takes you.
Smiling is a universal language that unites us all, so don't be shy about sharing a smile when meeting friends, family or strangers - the benefits will far outweigh any negative reactions and you'll bring more positivity into the world around you - who wouldn't want that?
Smiling: A Universal Language of Happiness
Smile AM researchers have demonstrated the universal understanding of smiles. Even newborns produce "social" smiles, showing their versatility in communicating various emotions and meanings. When we witness others suffering, our brains interpret smiles as signals of empathy; when we observe happy people, happiness becomes contagious; that is why smiling is such an effective means for building strong relationships and changing the world.
Brains are designed to mirror the facial expressions of those around us. If someone smiles at us, our bodies instinctively react by mimicking it - whether we feel like it or not! And this can only be viewed as positive; studies have proven that more smiling equals greater happiness which in turn enhances work productivity. A study by University of California at Berkeley psychologists LeeAnne Harker and Dacher Keltner demonstrated this correlation by showing those displaying genuine smiles were more productive when given tasks than those who did not - likely because smiles signal happiness while simultaneously reducing stress thus improving performance at work.
Smiling can be an invaluable way to strengthen one's immune system. Studies have demonstrated that regular smilers are better equipped to fight off illnesses and infections due to serotonin and dopamine production in their bodies - both chemicals that lead to increased happiness as well as stronger immunity.
Smiles also convey positive emotions such as contentment, trust and empathy - essential components of healthy relationships. Smiling is also an easy and natural way to form connections with other people as it's seen as friendly and open; therefore making smiles such a potency social tool.
If you want to increase the impact of your smile and its effect on the world, try this simple exercise. Sit or stand with face and lips relaxed. Stretch the corners of your mouth upwards until half your teeth are exposed; hold for 10 seconds. Repeat this process downwards each time revealing more teeth than before - this incremental exercise will strengthen muscles in your face, giving greater control over different types of smiles.
Unlocking Smiling's Superpower
Smiling can be an invaluable way to bring light into our world, increasing positive emotions, lowering stress levels, strengthening immunity systems and even lengthening lives. Unfortunately, smiling can also mask unpleasant emotions such as embarrassment, guilt or anger; research indicates that fake smiles may even be as effective at concealing true emotions as frowns! Therefore, for true expression of emotions it's best to smile with genuine intent and not force it on people around you.
An authentic smile can be contagious; our brains are hardwired to detect and mirror facial expressions from others - including smiles. Therefore, it is vitally important to surround yourself with positive people who can bring uplift when times get rough.
As you go about your daily errands, remind yourself that smiling is more than a physical response; it can also help alter both your own and others' moods. Smiling triggers neural communication boosting neuropeptides as well as dopamine and serotonin release from your brain which have a mood boosting effect, even to the extent that a simple smile has the same emotional effect as receiving $2,000 dollars!
Smiling often can help people be seen as more approachable, competent and trustworthy in both personal and professional interactions. Smiling helps build relationships while furthering careers; researchers have even found that people who smile through physical pain recover faster compared to those who don't; perhaps this shows your loved ones they are safe; Mother Theresa advocated this tactic herself!
Smiling is more than a way to express our happiness; it's also an effective way of conveying our intentions. For instance, when someone needs directions we might smile as an indication that we're willing to assist them; similarly if approached by an enemy who intends to harm us a smile can communicate peaceful intentions that might delay their attack.
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